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Friday, July 31, 2015

Evening, y'all! Paper Sweeties is celebrating their third birthday throughout the month of August with lots of surprises, blog hops, giveaways, sneak peeks on the 13th through the 16th, loads of new products releasing on the 15th, and more! Woohoo!

They're kicking off all the fun today with a birthday inspiration challenge to inspire your creative time this month, and I'm just thrilled to have been asked to join in! Here's how I was inspired by the challenge graphic below.

I started this card by piecing a bit of woodgrain, patterned paper and a strip of kraft, polka dot, patterned paper, side-by-side, onto the White, cardstock, card face; anchoring them with white-threaded, straight, machine stitches; and stamping their bottom right corner, in Jet Black ink, with the "Let your DREAMS set sail" sentiment.

I then wrapped the space between the two patterns with a length of Blueberry seam binding ribbon, which was tied, in a double bow, near the top edge and embellished with an anchor button, laced with a white, chord bow.

The center, layered circles were cut from Whisper White cardstock and a soft blue, stitched, patterned paper; secured together with white-threaded, straight, machine stitches; and adhered, in the top center of the card face, just to the bottom right of the embellished bow, with foam tape. Its wavy center was decked out with a stamped, in Jet Black ink, on White cardstock, boat, which was colored in with pencils, hand-cut out, and adhered with foam tape. Its right side was embellished with a palm tree, stamped, in Jet Black ink, on a White, cardstock die cut. Its trunk was colored in with pencils and its branches were paper-pieced and dressed up with a trio of Sugar Sprinkles floral sequins.

Jake trims out the left side of the circle and was prepared in the same way as the boat itself with the exception of a pair of pink, chevron, patterned paper, swimming trunks. I colored in their band with a white gel pen, which completes the look.

Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to see how the Paper Sweeties team, both past and present, were inspired, as well as to get all your challenge details. Thanks so much for humbling me with a visit! Be blessed!

Happy Friday, friends! If you can believe it, it's officially the last day of July. Sigh. Where has the summer gone?! We start school in just over a week, and while my kiddos are more than ready, I am not! We've had a wonderful, relaxing summer; but somehow, it still feels incomplete without a full-fledged, family vacation. We have one in the works, but it'll take place a couple of months after we start school, which will, actually, be a nice break from our studies in the midst of the cooler, fall weather. It'll be much easier to get started with school, too, knowing that I have something to look forward to; however, I'm still not sure I'm ready for a more scheduled routine again. Regardless, I'm diving in headfirst and using a portion of my weekend to sort through new curriculum and organize our command center; but I'm also crossing my fingers to find a little time to get creative.

So let's get this month's Friday Faves rolling with Avery Elle'sLook Up stamp set. I just adore these sentiments, not to mention their fonts, and all those images just leave me feeling so happy.

I also couldn't resist including their Peonies stamp set. Love the versatility of these sentiments, and that wide vase would be so fun to arrange!

I featured a couple of items, from Noonday Collection, here last month and have another to showcase this month. Even though I always get bruises on my wrists when I wear cuffs, this Featherweight Cuff was too gorgeous not to include. Just check out those details, and I love that it doesn't force you to commit to a specific color scheme within your wardrobe.

In one of my regular visits to Etsy, I came across this hilarious No Soliciting Typography Sign from American at Heart. It couldn't possibly be a more perfect depiction of how I feel as I'm crouching behind the furniture watching a stranger walk up to our front door. LOL!

And finally, I was introduced to Method 4x Concentrated Laundry Detergent, in one of my PINCHme boxes, a couple of months back and couldn't be any more smitten. Folks, this stuff got set-in stains out of our clothing in literally one wash; and our whites are, without a doubt, brighter. Their Ginger Mango scent is my favorite at the moment. Oh! And my hubby did the math, and it only costs 3.5 cents more per load than our regular detergent. Can't beat that!

That covers things for this month, y'all. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a truly amazing weekend! Hugs!

Thursday, July 30, 2015

I'm super excited to be here this month sharing one of the books that I read aloud to my daughter this summer, but even more so because my big kiddo overheard bits and pieces of our reading together and decided that he'd read it himself and use it for one of his practice reports this summer. He's such a good writer, but when he has to add doing so on top of all his other school work, he has a difficult time prioritizing and putting forth his best efforts. So, I had him practice writing this summer in hopes of it coming a bit easier to him when he has to do it for a grade come this school year. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though that plan has worked out for me. While his writing has improved, he still postpones until the last second and drags everyone else into his "I didn't have time!" drama. Ugh!

Anyway, with his permission, this month's For the Love of Books post comes from his very own hand-penned words. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I still think he has a good summary of the story; and with the exception of the lack of a concluding statement, he followed his other specifications perfectly. This is a story of determination, redemption, and love and is written for children ages eight to twelve. Enjoy!

Louis the Trumpeter Swan was born on a small lake in southern Canada. As charming as he was, unfortunately, he was born without a voice. In an effort to communicate with the other swans, Louis learns to write but is disappointed to find that most swans cannot read. He is even more disappointed when he could not talk to Serena, the swan he loves. Feeling sorry for his son, Louis' father gets Louis a trumpet by stealing it. To get his father out of debt, Louis uses the trumpet to earn money by being a camp bugler, playing music for the swan boats in Boston, and playing at a country club in Philadelphia. After about a year, Louis was able to give his father the money and leave with Serena to start their own family.

I learned that the more you practice the better you will get. Louis practiced the trumpet and was able to play many pieces of music. I also learned that you should not try to get money fast. You should instead work hard to earn it. Louis worked hard and earned $4,420.78.

I like this paragraph because it shows how much Sam Beaver, a boy who watched the swans and helped Louis, liked birds. It happens when a fox is attacking Louis' mother.

Just as the fox was about to spring and sink its teeth into the swan's neck, a stick came hurtling through the air. It struck the fox full on the nose, and he turned and ran away. The two swans couldn't imagine what happened. Then they noticed a movement in the bushes. Out stepped Sam Beaver, the boy who visited them a month ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was very funny and humorous. I like the way the author shared the characters' feelings. It was very descriptive. It was overall a very good book definitely worth reading.

I have read this entire book.
Ezekiel Newlin

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit! Enjoy a good book today!

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Well, hello there! I'm so sorry that it's been awhile since I've posted here. Summers are always so busy and unpredictable, and sometimes personal struggles can mess with my mojo. But I've been trying super hard to keep up with all of you and have got a few fun things coming down the pike, beginning with today's card creation, as inspired by a gorgeous, new palette at Colour Me...! We've actually got two for you to choose from this week, or maybe you want to do both (?). One combines Stampin' Up's Calypso Coral, Night of Navy, and Whisper White. I've showcased the other below, in a card for my sister-in-law's upcoming birthday, using Tip Top Taupe, Wisteria Wonder, and Blushing Bride.

I started this card by piecing a trio of patterned papers atop a Soft Suede, cardstock frame. The bottom edge was then stamped, in Crumb Cake ink, with the row of utensils, before securing everything with silver-threaded, straight, machine stitches.

Before adhering the prepped piece, with foam tape, to the Oatmeal, cardstock, card face, I wrapped it, vertically, with a length of pink, seam binding ribbon, which was tied, in a double bow, near the top edge and embellished with an ivory button, laced with a hemp twine bow.

I the stamped an Oatmeal, cardstock, pinking square die cut, in Wisteria Wonder ink, with the casserole dish and lid and, in Jet Black ink, with the "fresh baked BIRTHDAY WISHES" sentiment. After adhering it, with foam tape, in the center of the card face, just below the embellished bow, I dressed it up with a stamped, in Crumb Cake ink, Oatmeal, die-cut spoon and vellum, die-cut, measuring cup, which was stamped in Jet Black ink. A sprinkling of ivory sequins completes the look.

Be sure to stop
by the challenge link above to see how the rest of the team was inspired. We'd
also love to have you play along with us! You have until 12 noon EST, on
Monday, August 3, 2015, to link up your takes over at that same challenge link
above. Please be sure to check out last week's gorgeous Creative Challenge No. 81 Top Picks, too. Can't wait to see what you all whip up! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

I started this card by anchoring a trio of patterned papers, to the White, cardstock, card face, with white-threaded, straight, machine stitches. The top of that trio, as well as the top of the card base itself, had its outside corners rounded. I then stamped the heart wreath, with all its little, fill-in blooms, in Garden Green, Calypso Coral, Elegant Eggplant, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink, and White inks, on a Kraft, rounded rectangle, cardstock die cut. The center of the heart was stamped, in Jet Black ink, with the "best wishes FOR THE MR. & MRS." sentiment...

and the bottom half of the die cut itself was wrapped with a length of white, seam binding ribbon, which I tied, in a double bow, near the right edge and embellished with a white, chord bow, as well as a paper bloom and leaf. Once the die cut was adhered in the top center of the card face, a few pearls, added to the flowers' centers, complete the look.

Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to
see how the rest of the team was inspired. We'd also love to have you play
along with us! You have until 12 noon EST, on Monday, July 27, 2015, to link up
your takes over at that same challenge link above. Oh! And don't forget to
check out last week's Creative Challenge No. 80 Top Picks. It's always so fun visiting you all!
Thanks so much for visiting me! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Happy Sunday, y'all! I've got another challenge, from The Studio, to inspire your scrappy time for the remainder of the month. We'd like to see you create your own embellishments this time. I die-cut and stamped lots and lots of flowers throughout my page, but since I do that kind of thing quite a bit, I decided that I needed to challenge myself further and change things up a bit. So, I used this How to Make an Origami Flower and a Leaf tutorial, from Origami Spirit, to create a couple of big, bold blooms.

I started this layout by smudging a mix of Titanium White acrylic paint and water onto the green, crosshatch, patterned, paper, base page. It was then splattered with that same paint and water mix, as well as a mix of Pure Black acrylic paint and water, and stamped, in Pumice Stone and Jet Black inks, with an assortment of arrows, moving along a vertical plane just left of center, as well as, in London Fog ink, with a sprinkling of bitty flowers.

After layering my photo, which was matted with Whisper White cardstock, over a mix of papers, some torn and others anchored with black-threaded, straight, machine stitching, I grounded opposite corners with those origami blooms and leaves created, using a solid, orange paper, as well as a green, polka dot, patterned paper and Basic Black cardstock, from the tutorial linked above.

Those blooms were dressed up with die-cut, Whisper White, cardstock branches, as well as stamped, in Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Pistachio Pudding, and Wild Wasabi inks, on White, cardstock die cuts, flowers and leaves. A "celebrate spring" phrase sticker pulls more of that gorgeous yellow from my daughter's dress in the photo into the cluster in the bottom left corner.

The "EASTER blessings" title was Cameo-cut from a gray, floral, patterned paper and Whisper White cardstock; embellished with another one of those die-cut and stamped blossoms; and graces the right edge of the photo grouping...

along with "2015" sticker and "THESE MOMENTS" wood veneer tabs. A sprinkling of yellow, flower sequins and trio of orange, button blossoms, laced with white string, as well as a wood veneer heart and "hello" brad, complete the look.

Please be sure to stop by the challenge link above to get all your challenge
details, as well as to be inspired by my talented teammates. Thanks so much for
stopping by! Have a wonderful week, friends! Hugs!

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

I'm back with another gorgeous palette from Colour Me...! This one calls for Stampin' Up's Watermelon Wonder, Pear Pizazz, and Soft Sky, and I have to admit that the graphic itself caused me to go extra playful with this one. Enjoy!

I started this card by trimming the top of a piece of pink, flamingo, patterned paper with a wide strip of a soft blue, polka dot, patterned paper and anchoring a Cameo-cut, vellum, heart burst over the prepped piece with white-threaded, straight, machine stitches. I then stamped a hand-cut, chevron, patterned paper banner, in Jet Black ink, with the "YOU made MY DAY" sentiment and secured it in the top right corner of the prepped piece, before anchoring everything, to the White, cardstock, card face, with more white-threaded, straight, machine stitches. A bit of Honeydew twine, tied in a bow, dresses up the top of the card face.

Before placing the vellum die cut over the patterned papers, I also stamped the bottom of the flamingo piece, which was strategically positioned with the brighter pink flamingo, under the tree, in the bottom right corner, in Jet Black ink, with the multiple "FOR ALL THAT YOU DO" phrase.

A hand-cut, from patterned paper, tree, which was popped up with foam tape and embellished with a number of color-coordinating, floral sequins, completes the look.

Be sure to stop by the challenge link above to
see how the rest of the team was inspired. We'd also love to have you play
along with us! You have until 12 noon EST, on Monday, July 20, 2015, to link up
your takes over at that same challenge link above. Oh! And don't forget to
check out last week's Creative Challenge No. 79 Top Picks. It's always so fun visiting you all! Thanks so
much for visiting me! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

We're halfway through July, folks; and that means another sketch, over at Stuck?! Sketches, to inspire your creative time. With it having been my big kiddo's 12th birthday last week, I decided to pull pics from last year's celebrations and turned this one into a two-pager. Enjoy!

I started this layout by smudging the kraft, cardstock, base pages with Patina & Chalk Glimmer Mists, as well as Sunshine Mister Huey's. I then grounded a number of color-coordinating, patterned papers, across the center of the layout, as well as in the top outside corners, with silver-threaded, straight, machine stitches. The chevrons were Cameo-cut from patterned paper and adhered just to the bottom outside edges of the gray, triangle, patterned paper; and a few lengths of Washi were strung throughout, before placing my photos which were matted with Whisper White cardstock. A sprinkling of stamped, in Brilliant Blue, More Mustard, and Coastal Cabana inks, stars turns our attention to the left side of the design.

The "celebrate YOU" title was Cameo-cut from a denim, patterned paper and Whisper White cardstock; glittered; entangled with a length of white string which was wrapped around the cake photo and tied in a bow; and grounded with "SMILE" and "PARTY" stickers.

I then stamped the top of the photos, in Jet Black ink, with the "LOVE YOU MORE" and "YOU ARE LOVED" phrases...

and the top left corner was dressed up with a couple of hand-cut, patterned, paper banners, as well as an "AMAZING" cut phrase which I hand-cut into the shape of a banner to mimic the patterned papers. The star was die-cut from felt, stitched with more of that silver thread, and backed by a cloud die cut and tangle of silver thread.

An acrylic die cut, as well as a flair button and heart, stripe brad, ground the corner...

and an aqua, July 2014 tab...

as well as the addition of a sprinkling of clear gemstones; a couple of yellow, star stickers; and the stamped, in Jet black ink, "YOU ROCK!" phrase, which spill over onto the right side of the design, turn our attention to just that.

A "HMMM...." word bubble and "FAV!" phrase sticker, along with another tangle of silver thread, finish off the top of the design.

Another felt star, prepared in the same way as above, as well as a couple more clouds, tangle of silver thread, and heart brad, highlight a "Noted:" journaling card which reads, Happy 11th birthday to my talented, happy, bright, independent, loving, thoughtful young man!

"Wonderful YOU" and "YOU ARE SO FUNNY!" phrase bits complete the look.

Our sponsors for this sketch are...

and here's our July 15th Sketch to get you off and running in the right direction.

Don't forget to stop by the challenge link above to get all your challenge details, as well as to be thoroughly inspired by my talented teammates. Thanks so much for stopping by! Be blessed!

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I am a former kindergarten teacher turned wife of 16 years to BJ and stay-at-home, homeschool mommy to three beautiful gifts from God, Ezekiel (14), Adina (9), and Kaden (4). When I'm not taking care of or playing with my family, you can find me cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, and of course, papercrafting. My love for the latter started over thirteen years ago, but my love for creating began before birth. I feel overwhelmingly blessed by all God has given me and know that if I continue to keep my eyes on Him, He'll keep me soaring.

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All images are copyright Jinny Newlin. Shared images are not to be copied, without written consent, and/or used for publications or design contests. If you find yourself inspired, and I hope you do, and would like to share your idea on the internet, please note where you found the original idea. Thanks!